Silver Sustaining Member Collective Resource Compost Cooperative is increasing residential access to food scrap drop-off sites in Chicagoland. Learn about how to build similar model programs and develop collaborative relationships with your municipality in this guest submission from Elizabeth Zimmerman, Assistant to the Public Works Director for the Village of Skokie.
Your Community is Ready to Compost, Are You?
After urging from members of its Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission, the Village of Skokie began a composting program about five years ago, which entailed a code change to allow backyard composting, a $25 rebate for rodent resistant backyard compost bins, and a franchise agreement with a small hauler, Collective Resource Compost Cooperative, for a user-paid subscription service. The subscription service offered either 5-gallon buckets with lids or 35-gallon totes with compostable liners which are swapped with fresh, clean ones to minimize the ick-factor. Skokie’s compost program ramped up in 2023 following the completion of its Environmental Sustainability Plan, by opening three free residential food scrap drop-off sites. The program gained momentum quickly, drop-off sites were added as needed and there are currently twelve drop-off sites throughout our Village.
Admittedly, we were surprised by the overwhelming popularity of composting. After all, we are talking about passionate support for the proper disposal of a rotting banana peel. I am not entirely sure why so many are drawn to composting, but I speculate that the appeal lies in its multifaceted benefits: it embodies the “trash to treasure” ethos, supports local gardening and agriculture, and provides an easy, tangible action step for those worried about climate change. Whatever the driver, there is clear support from a diverse population that transcends political ideologies, highlighting its broad support.
There are growing options in the greater Chicago area both for food scrap hauling and compost facilities. The Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition (IFSCC) is an excellent resource; its website lists food scrap haulers and compost processors, and maps their service areas. It also provides a compiled database of municipal programs and contact information. I can attest that IFSCC is an approachable community, eager to help.
I encourage communities to consider promoting a subscription service or drop-off food scrap sites. It’s a long road to wisdom, but I do have some advice based on our experiences so far.
Education
Programs accept different materials based on a community’s compost model or compost facility type. As such, the materials accepted for composting can and will change. For example, compost facilities with digesters can generally accept more compostable products than windrow facilities. Similarly, municipal programs targeting food scraps usually accept meat, bones, and dairy, whereas yard waste / food scrap combination programs are often more limited.
A lesson learned – shortly after installing detailed signage at our drop-off sites, greasy pizza boxes went on a rollercoaster ride of being accepted, then banned, then accepted again. QR codes directing users to a website that can be updated or messaging baseline items that are widely accepted are two good solutions.
Promotion
The program that returned the largest increase in tonnage were compost bin giveaways. We offered two separate giveaways – a four-gallon transport bucket and a 2-gallon countertop bin. We ordered 400 of each and they were available for pick-up at our Public Works facility.
Skokie’s compost programs are promoted regularly and a landing page on the Village’s site outlines the various programs and highlights any programmatic changes.
A library presentation on our composting options was well-received and exceeded our expectations for both in-person and online attendance. Our Park District also offers an educational class on backyard composting and that class regularly sells out.
Drop-Off Sites
Although it’s tempting to conceal compost drop-off sites, avoid placing toters off the beaten path as they are prone to contamination and fly dumping; instead choose accessible, convenient locations with parking. Sites should be easily accessed by both users and the hauler. Popular neighborhood parks or municipal facilities are great options to ensure they are regularly monitored. Keep the locations separate from popular picnic areas or athletic fields to avoid contamination. Be mindful of equity by considering disadvantaged communities that may lack access to a car.
Add a trash can at each drop-off site to collect packaging materials that are not accepted in the program. Set calendar reminders for holidays or other events that generate extra waste volume and place extra toters out in advance.
Despite my initial fears – which included odors, fly-dumping, and rodents to name a few – any issues with composting have been infrequent and easily resolvable. While some monitoring and maintenance are necessary, the benefits have vastly outweighed the work input, proving the effort more than worthwhile.